Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 20, 2026

David Moylan

David M. Moylan was a member of the Cleveland City Council and later a municipal judge, who had lost both his arms in a railroad accident.

Last revised
Jul 20, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
216 w
Citations
9
Source
Judge David Moylan in 1916 source ↗

David M. Moylan (December 25, 1874 – May 17, 1942) was a member of the Cleveland City Council and later a municipal judge, who had lost both his arms in a railroad accident.1

Biography

He was born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1874 in Cleveland, Ohio.2

Around 1905 he was a railroad switchman in Cleveland, Ohio when he was hit by a train and lost both arms.3

He attended law school and was admitted to the bar in 1908.41 In 1912 he was elected to the Cleveland City Council. In 1915 he was elected to the Cleveland Municipal Court.56

He died of a heart attack in Cleveland, Ohio on May 17, 1942.1 His seat on the judicial bench was filled by Perry B. Jackson.7

Footnotes

Footnotes

  1. "Judge David Moylan, Cleveland Jurist. Lost Arms. Wrote With Pen in Teeth". The New York Times. May 17, 1942. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  2. Judge David M. Moylan in the WWI draft registration of 1918
  3. "The Armless Judge". Graham Guardian. November 19, 1915. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  4. "Armless Lawyer". Boston Daily Globe. April 3, 1910. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  5. "Armless Judge On Cleveland Bench". United Press in the Toledo News-Bee. November 3, 1915. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  6. "David Moylan". New Outlook. 1916.
  7. "Jackson Named Judge". The Afro American. August 29, 1942. Retrieved 2013-12-03.